My alto suddenly started peeping

[woutver]

Hi,

Since a couple of weeks, my alto suddenly started to peep on the higher notes. I've tried putting on a whole series of different reeds but nothing seems to help, so I'm expecting that there's something going on with my sax.

I believe it's not my mouth position. I've been playing for a long time and it started appearing a couple of weeks ago and got worse and worse. Now almost all the time I wanna hit any note above the high C it will peep. Sure I can minimize it a bit with my mouth position but still it shouldnt be like this.

Anyone had this experience before? What caused it and how did you fix it?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Walter

 

[griff136]

Hi Walter, first we need to establish what you mean by high C

Would this be the octave key plus the middle finger of the left hand? if so then the notes above this ( apart from the C#) use the palm keys. are these the notes that are causing you problems?

 

[woutver]

Hey Griff,

English is not my first language so I'm sorry if I didn't express myself clear enough.
Yes you're right, it's the C and the palm keys that are causing the problems.

 

[Gandalfe]

I've taken lessons, worked with other sax players who are friends, and done the dreaded but very effective long tone exercise. There is so much to learn and doing it with a teacher and/or friends can expedite the learning and accomplish time necessary to move to the next level. This assumes your instrument is in top shape with no leaks. If you can't play the lowest note on your sax softly, most likely you have a leak.

 

[woutver]

Gandalfe,

I've played for 20 years and had sufficient lessons to sincerely doubt it's about technique but thanks.
And it's the high notes not the low ones.
I've talked to some other folks, and I am expecting a leak at the G# valve, which is notorious to cause this kind of issues..

 

[kevgermany]

Gandalfe,

I've played for 20 years and had sufficient lessons to sincerely doubt it's about technique but thanks.
And it's the high notes not the low ones.
I've talked to some other folks, and I am expecting a leak at the G# valve, which is notorious to cause this kind of issues..

Would be great if you stopped by in the doorbell forum and intorduced yourself!

Have you unhooked the spring that keeps it closed? Easy to do when cleaning, and not always obvious.

 

[Morgan Fry]

A leaky G# isn't going to affect anything above it. More likely one of your palm keys or octave pips is leaking.

 

[griff136]

A leaky G# isn't going to affect anything above it. More likely one of your palm keys or octave pips is leaking.

A leaky G# will affect the G above it for sure and will also affect any of the altissimo notes where the G is closed. But in this instance - middle C and the palm keys - I doubt very much if it is the G#.

Could it possibly be a problem with your reed/mouthpiece/lig?